In the light, a movie version of Erik paced in a warehouse filled with hundreds of soldiers who were riveted by his every move. A warehouse Bane and Zion could now portal into, but shouldn’t. Considering they were dealing with the viking, there had to be countless traps. Poisonous sprays and gases, most likely, with an electrified floor. That was Bane’s preferred set of traps, anyway. No doubt there were specific traps for specific warriors. Like brighter lights for Bane, perhaps?

“Your job is simple,” Erik said. “A week before the meeting, one hundred of our best snipers will travel to the arctic. I have a cabin there, with an underground bunker beneath. The shooters will remain hidden until the assembly kicks off. Then, they’ll hunker in the mountaintops and shoot anyone who challenges me. Bullets won’t kill them, but that’s all right. Blind them, slow them, whatever you can, and my allies will take care of the rest.”

“That is what I wanted you to see.” Zion yanked out the wand, blood dripping on the floor. “Thoughts? Questions?”

“I never knew about the bunker,” Nola muttered. “Would have come in handy!”

“If we portal nearby and sneak into the warehouse,” Bane suggested, “you can freeze everyone in place, and I can kill them, ensuring they never make it to the assembly.”

New tremors rocked her, but still his woman offered support. “We should raid the warehouse tonight. It’s Halloween, so we can cart around every weapon in our arsenal without causing panic. Onlookers won’t give us a second glance. And, because I wanted to see you and Zion dressed up as Dothraki warriors, I picked up your costumes when I went shopping with Zion, so you’re both ready to roll.”

“Dothraki?” Zion said, crouching to clean the weapon on the tarp.

“Only the fiercest warriors ever.” She placed her hand on Bane’s pectoral, her skin white-hot, and the muscle jumped. “You’ll be Khal Drogo, the Dothraki leader.”

Drogo, the name she’d given his beast. “Agreed,” he said. For her? Anything.

“I will also be this Khal Drogo,” Zion announced. “We are coleaders.”

“Sure.” Nola glanced between the two. “But let’s maybe dispose of the body before we go?”

His pride gained new ground. How quickly she adapted to problems. “Allow me.” Bane opened a portal to his favorite shark-infested waters and dumped the body.

“Before anyone tells the little woman to stay behind,” Nola said, “I should probably inform you both that I’m going, and that’s final. My mission? Ensuring the other Drogo doesn’t burn down the entire world. Like you guys, I’ll be wearing a costume.” Not giving him a chance to protest, she raced from the room.

Willingly put her precious life in jeopardy? Never. But he couldn’t leave her here and not sink into madness. Worry for her would distract him.